Kontakt 2017, 19(1):e29-e35 | DOI: 10.1016/j.kontakt.2017.01.006

Influence of physiotherapy on knee joint pain after arthroscopyNursing - Original article

Marek Zeman^a,*, Pavlína Princová^b

^a Jihočeská univerzita v Českých Budějovicích, Zdravotně sociální fakulta, Ústav fyzioterapie a vybraných medicínských oborů, České Budějovice, Česká republika

^b Nemocnice Tábor, a. s., Rehabilitační oddělení, Tábor, Česká republika

The article deals with the topic of the influence of physiotherapy on arthroscopic treatment of the knee joint. The goal is to verify whether the selected methods of kinesiotherapy using physical therapy will lead to a decrease in pain and stability of the knee joint in patients who have undergone arthroscopy. The sample group consisted of 50 patients who underwent an arthroscopic surgical operation of the knee joint. They were divided into two groups. The control group consisted of patients who were not recommended a post-operative physiotherapeutic treatment. They were discharged for home treatment. The intervention group consisted of patients who underwent ten therapies. To prove the influence of physiotherapy on pain and the stability of the knee joint, selected standardized questionnaires were used. They were filled in immediately after the operation and four weeks later. Initial and final kinesiology assessments were carried out, including aspection, palpation, goniometric and anthropometric measurement and examination of muscle strength. The results show that the selected physiotherapeutic methods decrease pain of the knee joint and improve its stability in patients who have undergone arthroscopy. They also eliminate swellings, and have a positive effect on the strength and mobility of the operated limb. They help patients to quickly return to a fully active daily life. It is important to choose physiotherapy methods for each patient individually because individual dispositions and possibilities are not the same. Positive results can be reached combining various physiotherapy methods. Nevertheless, these results cannot be reached without the patient's active collaboration.

Keywords: Arthroscopy; Physiotherapy; Pain; Knee joint; Meniscus

Received: September 18, 2016; Revised: January 2, 2017; Accepted: January 20, 2017; Published: March 28, 2017  Show citation